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Offer guests a reprieve from all of the action.
Photo by Chris & Ruth Photography
Couples often spend a lot of time mapping out their seating assignments. But, there’s one seating arrangement that’s almost as important as your reception tables. The wedding lounge area is a practical, comfortable, and chic spot for guests to sit back, relax, and mingle. Since wedding receptions are usually packed with festivities, a lounge area will offer guests a reprieve from the action. If anyone needs a break from drinking and dancing, they can plop themselves on the couch to rest their legs, recharge their social battery, or observe the celebrations from afar. Depending on its use, lounge areas can also foster social interaction, encouraging guests to learn more about one another through easy conversation.
Not only are lounge areas functional, but they also provide the perfect opportunity to build upon your theme and show off your style. For a cohesive design, it’s best to pick hues and decorations that match your color palette and aesthetic. If you’re hosting a boho bash, populate your lounge area with rattan chairs, pampas grass arrangements, and handwoven rugs. For modern nuptials, select a sleek white couch adorned with black-and-white geometric pillows facing a lucite coffee table. Hosting a romantic fête? Pair pink velvet couches with glowing taper candles and arrangements of peonies.
You can also incorporate nods to the season into your design. Wrap ottomans with fuzzy blankets during winter weddings and set up Adirondack chairs beneath umbrellas during the summer months. Go the extra mile by personalizing the setup with monogrammed blankets, custom signage, and framed photos of you and your partner.
From leather sofas to luxurious draping, there are so many different ways to decorate a lounge area. Here are 25 ideas that will convince you to design your own.
Photo by Chris & Ruth Photography
Looking to make your lounge area your very own? Add custom decorations that honor your relationship, such as this neon sign that features the couple’s last name. You can also use signage to present a wedding hashtag, incorporate the wedding date, or put your joint initials on display.
Short on space? Don't sweat it. Lounge areas can be tailored to fit any setting from the most intimate to the exceptionally grand. Keep scale in mind when sourcing furniture and you won't overwhelm the scene. The petite pairing at this colorful wedding in Mexico paid off in a big way.
If you’re going for an old-world ambiance, select pieces of furniture that enhance the theme. Chairs and couches with wooden accents and a bar cart with brass detailing will give any space a retro feel.
To channel a vintage look, shop for décor at a thrift store, or better yet, showcase items passed down from family members.
Photo by Danilo and Sharon
For couples hosting their nuptials during the winter season or in cooler climates, an indoor lounge area is your best bet. When it’s too cold to chat outside, guests can seek solace in a heated room with cozy couches. By setting up the lounge area inside, you’ll also prepare for unpredictable weather like rain or snow that can damage the furniture.
Photo by Scarlet O'Neill
Nothing screams romance more than a pink color palette. Go all out by decorating an entire lounge area in the bright hue, or pair pops of pink with other muted shades. To create a dreamy look, furnish the space with a pink velvet couch, votive candles, floral arrangements, and pieces of artwork.
Photo by Ninety Three Creative
Is there a certain country that holds significance to you as a couple? Maybe you and your partner got engaged in Italy or visit Switzerland every year to go skiing. By integrating that influence into the lounge area design, you’ll capture those blissful memories. Or, maybe you don’t have any connection to a certain location, but you want to exhibit a country’s impeccable taste at the reception. We love how this lounge area’s pink velvet couch, black-and-white striped ottomans, and crystal chandeliers evoke a chic Parisian aesthetic.
Photo by Emma McIntyre Photography
Be strategic with how you position the lounge area so you can highlight the venue’s breathtaking landscape. Whether it’s overlooking the rolling hills of wine country or the sandy beaches of a Caribbean island, a beautiful backdrop will make the reception even more memorable. Not to mention, it will provide plenty of photo ops! Since you’ll want the view to be the main attraction, steer clear of any décor elements that will obstruct it.
Photo by Kaity Brawley Photography
By selecting lounge furnishings that complement the rest of the reception décor, you’ll construct a cohesive design that tells a story. This couple painted their couches, coffee tables, and rug in a light and airy color palette that fit in with their overall vision. They even chose floral arrangements of white flowers and textured grasses that mirrored their centerpieces.
Photo by The Foxes Photography
For couples throwing modern celebrations, stick to minimal and sleek setups with clean lines. Instead of heavy patterns and ornate accents, focus on neutrals and understated details. The velvet fabrics and pops of gold in this lounge area radiate a contemporary feel.
Wondering how to instantly upgrade your space? Wrap it in drapery! Covering a lounge in dreamy chiffon or organza fabrics will make any area look upscale and swanky. Sectioning off your sitting room with panels draped in linens will also create an intimate and cozy atmosphere guests won’t want to leave.
Photo by Ximena Zermeño Photography
When decorating the lounge area, use your color palette and decorations to build upon the venue. If you’re hosting a wedding outdoors, choose hues that reflect the earthy tones of the natural environment. You can also set the tone with decorations that coincide with your venue’s unique character. For a beach locale, pad the space with umbrellas, wicker ottomans, and woven rugs. A lounge space covered in potted plants and twinkle lights will enhance a garden vow exchange, while greenery garlands and glowing lanterns will look beautiful alongside a mountain ceremony.
To create a space as homey as your living room, rely on objects that hold significance to you and your partner. Line side tables with framed photos of loved ones who have passed or photos of you as a couple. Make your space even more comfortable with fur throw blankets and fuzzy ottomans.
Photo by Ashley Ludaescher Photography
Variety is the spice of life, and that’s certainly true when applied to a lounge area. Embrace texture with natural wood finishes, smooth velvet chairs, a shiny brass table, and a soft linen couch to give your space personality and interest.
Why settle on just one lounge area when you can have multiple? For couples swapping vows at home, fill the backyard with several different lounge stations. With more seating options, you’ll create an inclusive environment that accommodates all guests.
Photo by Moni & Adri Photography
Yes, vibrant hues are certainly eye-catching, but is there anything more timeless than neutrals? Shades of tan, beige, and white are extremely versatile, so they’re perfect for any wedding style or theme. Go au naturale with your lounge area or weave neutral elements into your décor. We love how the wooden furniture and braided poufs bring a playful flair to this beach setting.
Photo by Gracie Byrd Jones
There’s no better way to define your lounge area than with a bold couch. If you’re searching for a classic look that will stand the test of time, look to leather. With its rich, polished, and durable appeal, a leather couch will make a statement while providing an inviting hangout area for guests.
Photo by Lauren Fair Photography
To design a spot everyone will gravitate towards, choose charm over grandeur. Rustic wooden chairs, a cushy velvet couch, quaint vases, and welcoming shades of blue make this scene extremely tasteful. For the finishing touch, infuse the setup with a personal touches, such as objects from your own living room.
Suspending a glittery disco ball above your lounge furniture will bring the party and add a glamorous edge to any space. This disco ball looks especially show-stopping against luxurious black drapery. For a modern aesthetic, douse the spot in a chic black-and-white color palette.
An installation of flowers and greenery will freshen up your lounge area while adding dimension and drama. Surround the space with votives in varying heights for added romance. Coupled with a statement sofa, blooms provide the perfect backdrop for guests to snap photos.
Photo by Hannah Baldwin Photography
Whether you're short on photogenic vistas or simply want to add some extra flair, a well-placed backdrop can completely transform a lounge area—especially if it's part of a greater photo booth. This maximalist disco-themed wedding brought in a backdrop to heighten the funky-retro residential feel. The backdrop also creates the illusion of a more intimate space, negating the soaring ceilings above.
Want a space that’s both comfortable and organized? Create a balanced layout that will grab everyone’s attention. To make your space symmetrical, arrange two lounge areas that mirror one another. Then, use a standout decoration like this oversized floral arrangement to break up the order. Doubling the seating will provide extra space for guests to recuperate. You can also build balance on a smaller scale by placing two of the same tables on either side of the couch.
Photo by Meraki Wedding Photo & Film
A room full of mixed colors can be overwhelming at times. Zeroing in on a single shade and selecting tones from that same family is a simple-yet-bold way to design your lounge area. A monochromatic palette is full of precision and requires attention to detail, which makes for a stunning setup.
Chances are you'll want the lounge area to be accessible for the entirety of the wedding, not just the cocktail hour. Ample lighting ensures the space can easily transition from day to night. This bougainvillea-filled Brazilian wedding created a wall of illumination by lining lanterns around the border. Just imagine the warm glow of the candles bathing guests in gilded light!
Textiles are a major element for lounge areas and rugs are no exception. Beautiful rugs don't just add texture and color to the design, they're also incredibly functional. The distressed, charcoal choice at this western-themed wedding in Colorado not only laid out the parimeter of the space, it also provided a cushion against the grassy terrain for high-heeled guests.
Photo by Anna Delores Photography
The wedding lounge area is an intentional work of art, so why not frame the space accordingly? Call attention to the setting with beautiful structures that elevate the scene. This boho-chic garden wedding in California hung fringed lanterns and erected floating floral arrangements to showcase the plush setting.
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